never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, c

Hope is so much bigger than I ever thought it was. Hope is an orphanage full of kids who smile bright and give big hugs and lead you around by the hand. Hope is in the art that lines the walls of the ACFFC, all made by children to sell and support...

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

Hi! I’m Rae. 

You might know me on from social media as that chick who went to Haiti with H2H/Random Acts and blogged about it a lot. If you follow me, you might also know me as a teacher at a nonprofit learning center, and the IT and Social Media person for a nonprofit in Jacmel, Haiti called the Art Creation Foundation for Children. Or maybe you don’t know me at all! Hello to you, internet.  

I need your help with something huge.

The Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) is a grassroots, tiny little charity with a tiny little budget that is doing huge things. And by huge I mean “holy sh*t, how do you do that on the budget that you do that, this is amazing.” We’ve got over 100 kids, and they’re all fed three meals a day, get their school tuition + uniforms paid for, medical care, and art instruction as a means to develop autonomy. Their mosaic artwork is featured all over the walls of their city, and their work has been instrumental in making Jacmel a cultural site.

The problem is that we need help on the ground. The dream is real and the goal is possible: we can help these kids accomplish economic self-sustainability and continue to operate a program that makes a real difference. But to do this, we need staff. Our current stretched and small budget doesn’t have the capacity to hire new people, but we desperately need support or the program will flounder. A week or two isn’t going to do it; we need people who can stay at least 6 months to help develop a sustainable curriculum, identify programming challenges and help solve them, and — perhaps most importantly, just interact with kids, and give ‘em some extra love and attention. We need someone who can do all this without the organization paying for it, because the money just isn’t there.

This is where you and I come in.

I am ready and willing to help in any way I can, but I need your help. The trip, all expenses totaled, will cost around $5,000. I’m saving up to defray the cost, but I can’t do it by myself. We’re gonna need tumblr/social media help in a huge way to make this happen.

Here’s how to help:

Donate here! Do it! Do the thing! All donations are appreciated, big or small. Anything you can contribute will make a difference.

If you want, you can get in on a raffle for Haiti stuff signed by CW actor Misha Collins by donating. Every $10 you donate will get you 1 entry into the raffle. Make sure you fill out the raffle form!

Buy a custom necklace! They’re $18 +shipping and the message can say whatever you want. Contact me if interested!

Spread the word! Tell your followers, tell your friends, tell everyone you know. There is power in word of mouth. 

Please ask me questions! If I don’t know the answers, I will find them for you. You can contact me on tumblr or at [email protected].

Let’s be the change. Let’s make this happen.

[h2h3journal]

How To Keep Supporting H2H

If you like what you're hearing about Random Acts and their work in Haiti and you'd like to keep supporting, here are a few ways you can continue to help these causes!

The Art Creation Foundation for Children is currently fundraising for 10 of their youth to visit Toussaint Louverture High School for Arts and Social Justice in Delray Beach Florida. Needless to say, it would be an incredible, life-changing opportunity that would surely have ripples and ripples of positive after-effects for everyone involved. Their goal is $20,000 and they're currently at about 1/20th of that!

Random Acts' annual fundraising event, Endure 4 Kindness, is this November. I'll be biking for the event -- go here to donate or pledge per mile! To learn more about what Random Acts does outside of H2H, check out director Cinde Monsam's blog entry here. If you want to talk to me about Random Acts, shoot me an email at the address to your left! Random Acts is very close to my heart and I could babble on forever about it (:

You can also donate to the Jacmel Children's Center. While there are no official fundraising events currently going on, the JCC could still use the help! After going there and seeing the beautiful place myself and meeting the wonderful woman running it, I can guarantee that every dollar will be spent as thoughtfully and lovingly as possible. You can donate to the JCC here and check out this video about the JCC if you're in the mood to cry ;)

I leave you with this quote by Margaret Mead:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

[randomactsorg]

Hope to Haiti and the children of Jacmel have been part of our lives for more than two years.  The building of the Jacmel Children’s Center has been a labor of love, but also a learning experience.   

In the words of H2H3 volunteer, Rae, “I never understood hope until I came here.  These kids have more hope than I’ve ever seen… I’ve learned so much from these kids.”

We couldn’t have said it better, Rae.  The children of Jacmel will always be a part of our hearts.  They’ve taught us so much about love, hope, and life. They have been our inspiration, as have all of you.  Your support made the Jacmel Children’s Center a reality.  Thank you!

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 28, 2013

     ↳ (morning of Day 8)

Today has come unbidden and without my permission. Despite my requests and pleas and tears, it refuses to go away. Today is here and today we are leaving.

Jason left early this morning and I bid him goodbye with big, clinging hugs and sad smiles. I cried on the way to the bus; it’s too soon for goodbyes. The rest of us leave this afternoon.

We did a brief tour of Port-au-Prince this morning and went to the market with Cyril as our guide. I hovered close – I’m going to miss him, too. It’s amazing what people can take root in your heart and stay forever. We bought the ingredients for Haitian hot chocolate in hopes that we can bring that much more of Haiti home with us.

June 28, 2013

     ↳ (end of Day 8)

Shoulder-shaking sobs for this beautiful country, for the fantastic family I’ve forged there and the kids who have taught me more in a week than I have learned in my lifetime. Tears wiped on sweatshirt sleeves – and how odd it is to be wearing a sweatshirt again – for all these awful goodbyes. I am a mess. Everyone keeps hugging me.

We all keep joking that the English and lack of accents and dreary scenery is all wrong, that we miss Creole and oceans and struggling to understand everyone. A few of us have accidentally said merci in a U.S. Airport. We’re not joking, though, not really.

Home is somewhere else now.

June 29, 2013

     ↳ (flight home)

I’m sitting on a plane, and nothing has ever felt so surreal. I am awash with gratitude that floods my system and leaves me awed – gratitude the likes of which I’ve never know. I cannot say thank you enough to every person who has helped get me here. Every single donation, large and small, means more than I can say. I have seen where your money has gone and I can attest that you have done more good than you can possibly imagine.

Lisa and Cinde deserve praise higher than the world could provide for making all this possible. Random Acts is an agent of overwhelming good. I am happy and proud to consider myself at least somewhat a part of it.

And most importantly, I don’t think I can articulate properly my thanks for the children of Jacmel. How do you thank someone for changing your life? How do you put into words the depth of love and appreciation you have for every tiny hand and smile and hug? I know I never will. All I can do is continue to support them in any way I can, and keep them bright in my thoughts.

This has been the experience of a lifetime. I can’t wait to go back.

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 27, 2013      ↳ (end of Day 7)

 We are fast approaching the end and I will never be ready for it. I am not ready now. I won’t be ready on the plane or when we land or when I am in my room processing this life-changing week. It has been, at once, both a year and a blur. Either way, it is far too soon to leave this beautiful country.

Before we left for Port-au-Prince this morning, we had a chance to stop back at the ACFFC. I was delighted at the chance to see my kid again, and more than a little dismayed to find that he had not yet arrived. I did manage to ask the director of the center what the little boy’s name was, though, which gave me a bit of closure. (Peter Saint Germain, I love you very much)

We stopped at the JCC one last time for pictures and went from room to room, saying goodbye, taking it in with final impressions of awe. We took every manner of picture with every combination of group members and filled the moment with as much joy as any parting can hold. It is still mind-boggling that soon children will live in this place. The JCC is by far the most beautiful building I have seen in all of Jacmel.

Our bus ride to Port-au-Prince was spent mostly silent and sleeping – the quietest our (endearingly) obnoxious bus has ever been. When there was conversation, it was almost always about leaving Jacmel, and soon, each other. In hindsight, it is probably best that we slept most of the way.

Once we arrived and checked into our hotel, we were off again, this time to a youth center that specialized in teaching music. The children and young adults there performed for us, first an instrumental group and then several young men performing their original work. One of them in particular had a remarkably friendly, open smile while he performed. The young men who followed performed what we were told were Creole songs they wrote with social justice themes, demanding change in Haiti. All of the performances were wonderful.

Jason played for all of us as well, and again he asked everyone to chime in for the chorus of “I Will Sing of Your Love Forever” – a song that has come to characterize our trip. They hadn’t heard the song before, but caught on to the chorus quick. The harmony, as it has been this entire trip with this song, was wonderful. This song will be playing in my head for months to come.

There is something profoundly universal about music. Language wasn’t needed – here or at any point in the trip – to connect through it. Again and again, a smile, a voice and a guitar were enough. I cannot articulate how grateful I am to Jason and the children of Haiti for making this trip so musical, and giving it a soundtrack I can play in my head whenever I need to remember.

Later, we went to a beautiful, formal restaurant for our last dinner together in Haiti. There were toasts and I yet again was teary-eyed. The toasts to Cinde and Lisa settled warm and heavy on my heart. They are truly two of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met. They are my heroes, and I will miss the light that they bring everywhere they go.

Many of us stayed up late into the night in one of the hotel rooms, piled up on the beds and wringing as much as we could out of each other’s company before the last day of our journey. I am amazed by how close this family has gotten. I don’t know what I’ll do when I won’t be seeing them every any anymore. They will always have a permanent place in my heart.

I am not ready, I am not ready, I am not ready.

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 26, 2013      ↳ (end of Day 6)

If you want to learn about joy, there are three little boys I can introduce you to.

Today we split up between Faith and Love Orphanage and Jacques’ to do more painting. Remembering the kids I played tag with last time, I eagerly volunteered for Faith and Love. We set to work painting right away – and this time we had Jason in our midst to fill the room with music as he played his guitar and sang to the kids. It made the work feel light despite the heat, and most of us sang along at one point or another. The kids singing along to “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” again remain one of the loveliest things I’ve ever heard.

During a break, my three little friends from my last trip to Faith and Love ran up to me with mathing grins, calling my name – they remembered! – and asking me to play. I was worn out from the heat and painting and tried to communicate as much, but they persisted with such exuberance that I couldn’t have refused for long. I chased them all over, diving under tables and weaving through chairs, pulling them into tight hugs and kissing them on the head when I caught them. No sooner were they caught than they were off again, pulling from me more energy than I thought I could ever muster. They sang the refrain from Jason’s earlier song so I could sing it back at them, and every time they broke into giggles.

When I think of the word “joy”, I think of those three. I think I always will.

At the ACFFC yesterday, I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to my little boy or get his name. When I heard we wouldn’t be visiting there again before we left, I cried a little more than I care to admit. Today, I made sure not to make that mistake again and asked the boys to write down their names in this journal. They eagerly took it from me and my attention got called away to more paintings.

Three little girls came to join me, looking up shyly and gesturing to the paintbrushes. I smiled and showed them how they could “help” (though I did have to go over their adorably haphazard paint job when they were done). I was stunned by how willing and happy they were to lend a hand, when they could just as well have been playing.

When I was wiping the paint from my hands and calling it a day, two other girls who looked about 11 or 12 approached me, holding my notebook. Unbeknownst to me, the kids had been passing around the book and signing it. There were more signatures than kids I could recognize by sight and I was moved by how many I ended up with. It was an incredibly happy surprise.

Two girls left notes, in English, telling me their names, ages, favorite colors and birthdays. I almost cried when I saw it. To have something so specific and personal to remember Faith and Love means more than I can say. I’ll treasure these messages forever.

We had lunch at a breathtaking place called “Enchanted Hill”, which easily lived up to its name. A group of us went to the beach by the hotel afterward, led by our fantastic tour guide, Cyril (who has long since earned a place in my heart). We saw an eerie and beautiful voodoo temple on the way and got lost in the overwhelming loveliness that is the country of Haiti. I have never been anywhere so beautiful.

We leave Jacmel for Port-au-Prince tomorrow morning, and there is a distinct sense that something remarkable is ending. A certain sadness falls whenever there is a lull in conversation, and everyone rushes to fill it. No one wants to talk about or think about or even acknowledge that tomorrow we are leaving.

I, for one, would rather stay here.

* will add more photos for this day once dee finally uploads her photos

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 25, 2013      ↳ (end of Day 5)

My experience in Haiti can almost implicitly be relayed by the state of my feet.

The first indicators are the tiny, jagged cuts littering my skin from the rocks at the bottom of a beach in Haiti. For a day or two, they stung when I walked and I might carry the scars forever – and I hope so. They are a visual reminder of the beauty this country holds and the breathtaking view at that beach.

The next are the stark tan lines from my sandals, earned first at the JCC when we worked in the sun to make the place beautiful. When I see the disparity between the shade of my skin before and how it looks now, I am reminded that I am not who I was when I first came here.

Today my feet are covered in paint and slightly seared at the bottom. We went to the ACFFC to lend our services to paint every wall of the first floor of the building. We had no ladders and only one room had a tarp for the floor – things got messy fast. To spare my shoes, I took them off and painted barefoot, even as paint fell and stuck to the bottom of my feet. I “spider-monkeyed” up the gated windows of the porch to reach higher places, not thinking of the way it started to jut uncomfortably into the arches of my feet until it was too late. My ACFFC buddy from yesterday found me and his face brightened so strikingly that I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. In fact, I very well might be, to have earned a place in this fantastic child’s heart.

The next onslaught of abuse to my feet came some time after I took my shoes off when I was painting. A girl of about my shoe size came in and playfully put on my shoes, laughing as she left her sandals in their place. I grinned and put on her shoes and she wandered off.

When I found her again on our way out, she offered to give back my shoes. I shook my head and slipped hers off, leaving both pairs at her feet. I had more shoes at the hotel; I could afford to leave something to remember me by.

– Of course, I did sear my feet on the cement on the way out, but the subtle annoyance is a welcome reminder of her smile. Somewhere in between, I listened to Jason play his music with my smiley boy from earlier and my silly shoe swapper. I asked Jason to play “Crazy Love” and he obliged, though he kept pausing in his singing so that I’d have to sing (badly) too. It made the kids happy, though, so it was worth it! After a quick trip back to the hotel (where I put on my other pair of shoes), we went on a trip with the ACFFC to go on a tour of all the mosaics the children at the center had created around the city. My Berdine went on the trip as well, and she led me around by the hand, giving me her own tour in Spanish. I felt so special to have gotten to know the city through her eyes.

The idea that we are leaving in a handful of days is impossible to me.

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 24, 2013      ↳ (end of Day 4)

This whole trip has been a lesson for hope -- and I have learned so much. I am grateful beyond words for all that these kids have taught me.

The day started out with a group meeting on the floor in the hotel to share our experiences and reflections so far. We went around the circle and told about special moments and feelings so far. Phil and Misha were leaving and it was nearing the last we'd see of them. Misha was a bit teary-eyed when it came to his turn to share. Every day the group seems more and more moved and connected to our experiences I Haiti. We ended the meeting with a group hug and then headed to the ACFFC.

It was there that we really got to interact with the kid. We broke off into groups to do either paper-mache, painting or glass bottle making. I used the process the children use to make their beautiful bowls and other pieces of artwork. It required so much more patience than I would have ever expected a kid to have! I wasn't the greatest at this particular endeavor; the boy helping me was constantly making corrections. I was proud of the end result, though. Misha and Phil went home somewhere around that time (Misha said goodbye with a fist-bump to my sticky, glue-covered hands) and the idea that these were the first of many, many goodbyes hit me for the first time. I don't think I'll ever be ready to say goodbye to these kids, this team, or this amazing country.

Again, my camera came I handy to earn the interest of the kids. One boy took to me fast and got a firm grip on my heart even faster. His smile is one of the best things I've ever seen, and he was full of them and hugs for me. He liked taking pictures, having his picture taken and taking pictures with me. No matter how many times I asked, I couldn't pronounce his name, but even without a name, he's secured a place in my heart forever.

Some girls whisked me away to make bracelets, and we made fast friends. I was delighted to find out that one girl spoke some Spanish. I know a bit myself, and we were able to hold small conversations. She made me a beautiful bracelet, which I never intend to take off. Her name is Berdine.

Afterwards, the boy from earlier and I listened to Jason play guitar and sing. I've grown quite attached to this kid and can't wait to see him again tomorrow.

A group of us left the ACFFC to go help with another project. On the way, Cyril explained that there was a process to turn styrofoam into viable blocks for construction of actual houses. We were showed the whole process, which involved cranking a machine to shred the styrofoam and loading it into rice bags before putting it into another machine to manually compress the styrofoam into blocks. I was blown away by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of this method. The styrofoam was all collected on beaches, riverbanks and roadsides – thus helping the environment as well as creating something new. It is such a good metaphor for what I've seen again and again on my trip – people turning bad situations into a chance for hope. To look at a pile of trashed styrofoam and see a chance for creation is exactly what hope is.

Our group then headed out to help collect styrofoam ourselves. The task was much more intense than I expected! We went to a roadside that was steeply sloped and covered in vegetation and had to scrounge through a fair amount of trash to pick scraps of styrofoam. Like the rest of the work on this trip, though, it hardly felt like work at all. It felt good to be a part of something so great.

When we finished, the group of ten styrofoamers went to grocery store to exchange our U.S. Dollars for Haitian money, as per Jason's suggestion. We tried Haitian ice cream when Cyril insisted and it was fantastic. Cyril is a pretty amazing person and I'll miss him a lot when I leave.

We had some down time at the hotel and Lisa led a yoga class. At first I was wary – yoga is well outside my comfort zone – but then I thought about how often and how drastically I have gone out of my comfort zone during this whole trip. I thought about the things I tell myself all the time: “I'm too awkward”, “I can't do this”, “I'm incapable” – and I realized that they aren't true. This trip is about trying new things, so I tried yoga, too.

I was taken aback by what a great experience it was and it is actually one of my favorite memories of the trip. I am extremely grateful to Lisa for leading it. During the session, she invited us to open our minds and feel gratitude and joy about our experiences – but also reminded us to be proud of ourselves. She had us think of a memory and hold it close to our hearts and something – perhaps in heart or spirit or perception – shifted. I don't know how to describe it other than that I finally felt present and connected to every breathing moment of this trip. I will always find it amusing that the first time I cried on this trip, it was during yoga, of all things.

After yoga, we had another sharing circle. With each passing day, every shared experience is becoming more and more profound.

I'll admit I cried quite a bit. 

(there was also an awesome mini "concert" after dinner, courtesy of our resident singer/songwriter, Jason Manns. We bombarded him with requests and all hugged a lot)

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 23, 2013      ↳ (End of Day 3)

Lisa said that a day in Haiti is like a year, and she couldn't have been more right. When I think of things that happened this morning, it feels like weeks ago. Could it be that so much has happened in a day? Could we really only have flown in on Friday? So much has happened.

This morning we dressed in Sunday best and headed to the Faith and Love orphanage for their church service. I have never enjoyed church so much. The chorus of little voices singing in Creole and English was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. There was a certain spirituality to the service that hit depths much deeper than most religions I'm familiar with. When these children sang thanks to God, they meant it. It was beautiful.

Jason Manns sang an English song the children knew and could sing along to and Cinde Monsam gave a short pseudo-sermon, translated by our fantastic Haiti contact, Cerol (whose named I've sure spelled horribly wrong). Afterward, we were free to hang out with the kids. This was by far my favorite part.

Cameras are an excellent ice-breaker. The children huddled around excitedly when I showed them pictures of themselves and posed happily for more. Two kids convinced me with sweet smiles to let them use it, and I wound up leaving it in the care of one of the boys to run around and take pictures. I have about fifteen of the most hilarious photos ever taken thanks to him.

I played ball and tag with some of the kids and it was the most fun I've had so far on this incredible trip. Faith and Love was hotter than the cool rooms at the JCC, and sweat was pouring down my skin by the time we were through. The kids were still willing to give hugs, though! I was especially touched when one kid asked about the camera in Creole, and I thought he wanted a picture of himself. He quickly amended with smiles and hand gestures that he wanted a picture of us both. These kids are wonderful. The joy they have in light of everything is incredible. It's something I – and everyone – can learn from.

After Faith and Love, we went to a beautiful location for lunch. I went into the ocean in my dress, swallowed more than my fair share of salt water from the rushing waves and cut up my feet on the rocks. It was totally worth it (– or at least, that's what I kept telling myself on the soggy trip to our next destination).

Jacques' orphanage came after lunch, and we came bearing toys and supplies and shoes. We didn't stay long, but we did have time to gather close to listen to Jason and the kids sing in turn. I blew bubbles at the kids and reveled in the small things that can connect people, even without language.

We returned to the hotel to rest and recuperate before the main event of our trip – the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Jacmel Children's Center. The ceremony at the JCC was beyond words. All the children – the future inhabitants of the building! – were gathered together for it. The music the chorus sang for the occasion was gorgeous, leaving many volunteers in tears.

The “ribbon” for the cremony was a rope braided by some children at the JCC, and it was more than fitting. It was perfect. Bonnitte (the inspiring, loving Haitian woman behind the JCC) stood close as Lisa cut the string, and the sense that something unspeakably, extraordinarily momentous was happening was immense.

We all toasted afterward with cider and exchanged teary hugs. Even as I write these words, it still feels unreal to me.

A giant cake was brought out for the kids – and giant is no exaggeration – and they all but swarmed Lisa for a piece. The huddle of eager kids surrounding this extraordinary woman was adorable. I plopped myself amidst a group of kids and broke the ice, again, with my camera. They warmed up to me more with every new shot I showed them, and by the time I had to go, they were hardly shy at all. I am glad to have met them. I tried to communicate as much to one of the little girls. After several failed attempts, I just grinned and hugged her. Judging by her million dollar smile, I think she got the message.

After the incredible thing that was the ribbon-cutting ceremony, we were surprised by a trip to somewhere completely different. Lisa organized a chance for us to learn from Haitian dancers. They were incredible!... us, not so much. Our attempts were whatever the opposite of graceful is. Everyone was laughing from start to finish. It was well out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad I had the chance to do something I'd never do under other circumstances. After thoroughly embarrassing ourselves, the real Haitian dancers performed for us. Again, the word is incredible. It was a sight to behold.

We had dinner at the same place we were taught dancing and then strolled through their art gallery.There was a piece on display that featured a woman and her son on a donkey, which was carrying a basket of fruit. The man at the art gallery explained that it represented the dream for the people of Haiti – that their resources would be better used and they would be able to work hard and reap the rewards like the woman in the installment. He asked that this be what we think of when we think of Haiti – a visual reminder of the heart of the Haitian people.

We returned this night weary and sleepy from our day, though it didn't deter us from jumping in the pool with glow sticks and later playing cards. Then for a while there were people huddled in the only section of the hotel with wifi – much like cavemen around the proverbial fire.

I am nodding off writing these words, as it's just past 2:30am. I will end it with this, though: I had never truly understood hope until I came to Haiti.  

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 22, 2013      ↳ (End of Day 2)

Today was incredible.

Our first stop was the Jacmel Children’s Center – the place where so much of our fundraising has poured into, that has been Random Acts’ baby for the past three years. We pulled up to a yellow two-story building surrounded by tall gates with men working all over. As fellow volunteer Jason said well, it was “by far the most beautiful building I’ve seen in Haiti so far.”

It was surreal to walk the building and see all these hopes and ideas, pictures and blog entries come to life. I was at a loss for words. Could it really be possible that the work of a small group of people could make this a reality? Were the ground beneath my feet and the walls on every side truly real? It was overwhelming. I will surely never experience anything quite like the awe I felt when I saw this building. What had once only been pictures of a half-built structure full of hope for the future is now very nearly a home.

What were even more moving was the reactions of the volunteers from the previous two years. It was only through their eyes that I could see the magnitude of the transformation that has occurred here. With tears in their eyes, they told us newcomers how this was just an empty plot of rubble three years ago – a bundle of hopes and hard work and a promise for the future. The future is now, and I can only begin to grasp what these past volunteers must be feeling.

We set to work immediately, and the sun was just as unforgiving as I’d been promised it would be. We hauled tiles and trash and swept floors and scraped cement from the tiles outside on our hands and knees. Everyone was drenched in sweat that dripped and soaked through shirts. Water breaks were frequent. The sun was relentless.

And yet, there was no real sense of “work” to the work were were doing. It was a pleasure, and everyone I talked to all agreed. Hot as the sun was, we were more than happy to put our all into it. The company of like-minded people can never be overvalued. This group is lighthearted and ridiculous and silly. We sang and talked and reveled in the fact that we were here, in Haiti, living through what had only weeks ago been a dream.

Many, many bottles of water (and surely bottles of sweat) later, we headed to the AFCC for lunch. The food, as it has been since we arrived, was fantastic. The art and the children were the most remarkable things in there. Many of the children were shy, though a few smiled wide for my camera. A boy named Rafo spoke impressive English and told us about himself and shared his art with us. His paintings were beautiful. It is incredible that this place exists to hone the talents in these children. Rafo wants to be an artist when he grows up – and with that kind of skill, he’s already well on his way.

We headed back to the JCC after lunch for another hour of working on the building. We swept concrete and tiles and sifted through debris and by the time we were heading back to the hotel, the place looked that much more notably improved. We hardly registered that we’d made any progress until we looked back on our way out.

Once at the hotel, we rounded up the various donations the H2H team brought – toys, clothes, school supplies, etc – and divided them between the five children’s centers that Random Acts supports. The number of things collected was amazing. Lisa remarked that it felt like a store’s worth of stuff, and I have to agree. We filled suitcases and suitcases of donations; some of us (myself included) emptied out our own suitcases to lend for the cause.

Later we had a Q&A with Jason Manns, Misha Collins, and Lisa and Phil Schneider, led by the lovely director of Random Acts, Cinde Monsam. It was very informative, and interesting to hear some of the backstory to the project as well as the opinions and experiences everyone on the panel had. Naturally, it was exciting to hear from the “famous” volunteers, Jason and Misha, but the atmosphere was very laid-back and conversational. I look forward to the video recorded by Random Acts’ fantastic treasurer, Tracy. We concluded the day with a beautiful and delicious oceanside dinner, sharing more stories and getting that much closer.

I find myself very fond of all our bus rides to and from each location. The atmosphere is so wonderful and warm and friendly (and ridiculous). We’ve quickly become a family.

All in all, an eye-opening, unforgettable day.

[randomactsorg]

Thank you to all our friends who helped make the Jacmel Children’s Center a reality! It’s been more than two years in the making, but the JCC’s official housewarming was last night.  Mad props to the volunteers and supporters who have worked to bring Hope to Haiti.  You are all amazing!

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

June 21, 2013      ↳ (PHL Airport)

I’m sitting in an airplane and nothing has ever felt so surreal.

So many hands and hearts brought me to this moment. So many people came together to make this dream a reality. There is nothing in this world as beautiful and moving as seeing strangers come together to make a difference. I am humbled and so, so grateful.

And so here I am, seat-belt fastened, all electronics off, embarking on an adventure. My very skin is alive with excitement. My pen is trembling.

It begins now!

June 21, 2013       ↳ (End of Day 1)

The volunteer team is more wonderful than I could have possibly imagined. I could not have chose better if I’d handpicked them myself. We spent today in transit, from a plane ride out of Miami to Port au Prince to a three and a half hour bus ride to Jacmel. The sun had long set by the time we arrived at our hotel, and almost everyone was tired and hungry.

– but these hours spent in transit were by no means biding time. Every moment, we were getting to know each other, learning names and swapping stories and building a sense of family between us. We spent the bus ride playing ice-breakers and told about our fundraising experiences. Misha asked why we all individually chose to go on this trip, and I was moved by every answer. To say that this team is full of passionate, well-intentioned people would be an understatement. The heart in this group of people is enormous. After we had settled into the hotel, we all convened for dinner. The kinship and sense of solidarity at that long table was fantastic. Afterward there was line-dancing – and Cinde has made herself one of my favorite people ever because of it – and later some of us hopped I the pool. Everyone has been respectful and chill about our somewhat famous volunteers, Misha Collins and Jason Manns. There is an easiness and lighthearted air to the group that breathes well. Tomorrow we head to the Jacmel Children’s Center to begin work to ready it for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I am excited! Thankfully, tonight I am exhausted enough to sleep through the jittery anticipation.

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

my friend is over so i’m trying not to cry but wow I am utterly speechless here

got a package today from ludditeheart that pretty much did my haiti packing for me, with the sweetest letter attached

i have no idea what to say, except thank you. i feel so loved. these are all things i would have had to buy myself and now i don’t have to and asdfgxcvb

you are wonderful, i will never forget this

between your help and everyone else who has helped out with my list, I’m pretty much packed for haiti

i am continually overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of strangers. thank you so much.

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

I haven’t even been to Haiti yet and the trip has already changed my life.

The whole road so far has been an overwhelming experience of a series of random acts of kindness from strangers. 98% of fundraising for the $5,000 goal came from kind people on tumblr who all pitched in what they could. Watching the number grow, I never felt so loved - in helping Haiti, you were all trying to help me reach my goal, too. Strangers helped my dream come true. 

And then even after fundraising was said and done, people have overwhelmed me with support by taking care of all the things I need for my trip. I posted a list of things I need and a wish list on Amazon and almost every single thing on the list has been sent to me. 

Got these two packages in the mail yesterday - one all the way from Australia. Thank you both so much. I am pretty much packed for Haiti at this point. 

Tanya - !!! what a sweet care package! So full of thoughtful things I will definitely need, and all wrapped up in a bag I can use for the trip. Thank you! And extra thanks for the Australian chocolate biscuits, I was very excited about those

Lis - the shorts fit very well, thank you so much! also, crazily enough, I actually realized a day before I got your package that I needed swim trunks and then you sent them and just sdfghxcvbn thank you

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

i am reminded every day of how lucky i am to be so loved and supported by so many people. sometimes i’m reminded with packages in the mail from people i’ve never met who care about me a whole lot.

for those of you who didn’t know, rex heard i didn’t have a camera for my trip to haiti and promptly sent me his extra one, insisting that i keep it even after my trip. 

he also sent me a bunch of tea and a letter that made my cry (which, hilariously, specifically told me to stop crying haha)

thank you rex! 

[sunflowyr]

[h2h3journal]

I’M HAVING A SITUATION RIGHT NOW I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TWEET SINCE BIRTH

[h2h3journal]

Hope 2 Haiti (and how you made it happen)

You guys know me; when good things happen, I get sentimental - and when I get sentimental, I write long posts. It was only a matter of time really.

the tldr version is this: Next month I’m going to Haiti, and you guys are the ones who made it happen.

This, quite literally, would have been impossible without you.

I can never abide a bad word about the tumblr community or the Supernatural fandom, ever, because again and again, you guys have demonstrated that the true essence of humanity is kindness. There were days when I was discouraged and ready to give up, but someone always swooped in with a donation of what they could or some words of encouragement to cheer me up. Every step of this journey has been taken together. 

I have never felt so loved.

At the end of fundraising, there were 137 separate donations. 137! Guys, that’s AMAZING. That number is so, so many people coming together to do something good. That number is many, many people giving what they can (and a few people giving a legitimately breathtaking amount). And on top of donations were messages and messages of people wishing me luck, rooting me on and letting me know that they genuinely cared about the cause and about me, personally, getting there. 

Another cool thing was how many different methods went into fundraising - a lot of them from people on tumblr who wanted to help out. 

Just as a quick summary there were:

plushies and wallets made (and sold by donation - some people overwhelmed me with their generosity on that end)

fanart offered by artists from tumblr (brightfallenstars and hollyoakhill) to be sold at an anime convention by my fantastic friend, harry

Writing commissions by me and frankie, a long fanfiction series update promised by Giorgia and endless signal boosts on jen’s super successful fic series

Many a person telling friends, co-workers, and family members

and many, many more

When I say this was a team effort, I am not kidding even a little.

I have cried on so many different occasions because of fundraising awesomeness so I’ll try not to end the post on a sappy note.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH <3333333333333